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| Chantal
Richards is a fine art photographer whose dedication to unearthing her subjects’
passions means she captures their true personalities in intimate, beautifully
crafted portraits.
Chantal, a member of the Master Photographer’s Association, says: ‘I’ve always been fascinated by what makes people tick, the emotions behind the face we present in public. People often laugh when they see their portrait, or the portrait they’ve commissioned of their children, because they see something so raw and personal shining through. ‘I
have a distinctive style, which is great, but I am also happy to let the
character of the person I’m photographing, dictate the pictures I
produce. |
| ‘I’ve
met little boys who feel awkward and shy, but become really animated at
soon as they have a rugby ball to hold and adults who hate having their
photo taken give my camera the kind of smiles they usually reserve for people
they love.’
Chantal, who has three sons and lives in Teddington, Middlesex, has developed a unique way of working. She explains: ‘I like to have a pre-shoot meeting with the people I’ll be photographing. Usually, I visit them at home, where they feel most comfortable. ‘If this means going to a house and talking fairies with a three-year-old then that’s wonderful! I’m a mum myself and I would never expect my sons to relax enough to get an amazing portrait if a stranger was behind the lens. ‘I don’t want subjects to behave in a way that’s unnatural to them. The art of portraiture is more than just taking a technically brilliant photograph, it’s about capturing the essence of someone’s personality, the illusive qualities which make them unique. ‘My clients don’t want a generic portrait that appeals only to family and friends. They expect to take delivery of a piece of art they’ll always treasure…and I love giving them exactly that.’ • Read about
what Chantal’s clients have say about her. Click
here |